[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 244 (Thursday, December 21, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 88286-88288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28031]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2466; Airspace Docket No. 23-ACE-6]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-220 and Revocation of VOR 
Federal Airways V-79 and V-380 in the Vicinity of Hastings, NE

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-220 and revoke VOR Federal 
Airways V-79 and V-380. The FAA is proposing this action due to the 
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Hastings, NE (HSI), 
VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). 
The Hastings VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR 
Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-2466 and 
Airspace Docket No. 23-ACE-6 using any of the following methods:
    * Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    * Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West 
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    * Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in 
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    * Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of 
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and 
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for This Rulemaking

    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106 
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 
Aviation Programs,

[[Page 88287]]

describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority. This 
rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in Subtitle 
VII, Part A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, the FAA is 
charged with prescribing regulations to assign the use of the airspace 
necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of 
airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority as it 
would modify the National Airspace System as necessary to preserve the 
safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain 
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or 
commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments 
are filed in writing.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before 
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light 
of the comments it receives.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and 
hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during 
normal business hours at the office of the Operations Support Group, 
Central Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Incorporation by Reference

    VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 
JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This 
document proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order 
JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. 
These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 
7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this document.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Background

    The FAA is planning to decommission the VOR portion of the 
Hastings, NE, VOR/DME in September 2024. The Hastings VOR is one of the 
candidate VORs identified for discontinuance by the FAA's VOR MON 
program and listed in the Final policy statement notice, ``Provision of 
Navigation Services for the Next Generation Air Transportation System 
(NextGen) Transition to Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for 
Establishing a VOR Minimum Operational Network),'' published in the 
Federal Register on July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-
1082.
    Although the VOR portion of the Hastings VOR/DME is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being 
retained to support current and future NextGen PBN flight procedure 
requirements.
    The VOR Federal Airways affected by the planned decommissioning of 
the Hastings VOR are V-79, V-220, and V-380. With the planned 
decommissioning of the Hastings VOR, the remaining ground-based NAVAID 
coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the continuity of the 
affected airways. As such, proposed modifications to V-220 would result 
in the airway segments supported by the Hastings VOR being removed and 
to V-79 and V-380 would result in the airways being revoked.
    To address the proposed amendment and revocation actions to the 
affected airways, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use 
adjacent VOR Federal Airways V-6, V-8, or V-38, or request radar 
vectors from air traffic control (ATC) to fly around or through the 
affected area. Additionally, pilots with Area Navigation (RNAV) 
equipped aircraft could also navigate using RNAV routes T-286, T-413, 
and T-468, or navigate point-to-point using the existing fixes that 
would remain in place to support continued operations though the 
affected area. Visual flight rules pilots who elect to navigate via the 
affected VOR Federal Airways could also take advantage of the adjacent 
airways or routes, or the ATC services listed previously.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend VOR 
Federal Airway V-220 and revoke VOR Federal Airways V-79 and V-380 due 
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Hastings, NE, 
VOR/DME. The proposed airway actions are described below.
    V-79: V-79 currently extends between the Hastings, NE, VOR/DME and 
the Lincoln, NE, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). The FAA proposes 
to remove the airway in its entirety.
    V-220: V-220 currently extends between the Grand Junction, CO, VOR/
DME and the Columbus, NE, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the 
airway segment between the Kearney, NE, VOR and the Columbus VOR/DME. 
As amended, the airway would be changed to extend between the Grand 
Junction VOR/DME and the Kearney VOR.
    V-380: V-380 currently extends between the Grand Island, NE, VOR/
DME and the Mankato, KS, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
in its entirety.
    The NAVAID radials listed in the V-220 description in the proposed 
regulatory text of this NPRM are unchanged and stated in degrees True 
north.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this proposed regulation only involves 
an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and 
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. 
It, therefore: (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979); 
and (3) does not warrant

[[Page 88288]]

preparation of a regulatory evaluation as the anticipated impact is so 
minimal. Since this is a routine matter that will only affect air 
traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this 
proposed rule, when promulgated, will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

0
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g); 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 
10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.


Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-79 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-220 [Amended]

    From Grand Junction, CO; INT Grand Junction 075[deg] and Rifle, 
CO, 163[deg] radials; Rifle; Meeker, CO; Hayden, CO; Kremmling, CO; 
INT Kremmling 081[deg] and Gill, CO, 234[deg] radials; Gill; Akron, 
CO; INT Akron 094[deg] and McCook, NE, 264[deg] radials; McCook; INT 
McCook 072[deg] and Kearney, NE, 237[deg] radials; to Kearney.
* * * * *

V-380 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 15, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-28031 Filed 12-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P